Schumacher fastest at Melbourne opening
©
Friday March 7, 1997
Summery
Michael Schumacher set the fastest time in the free practice session for the Melbourne (Australia) Grand Prix today. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was second. Damon Hill set a very nice 13th time of 1m 35.073s. He had some technical problems in the first free session which ended after just six laps.
Notes
- First session
- Eddie Irvine spun.
- Damon Hill out because of technical problem.
- Mika Hakkinen chashes but can walk away unhurt. The session is paused.
- Shinji Nakano has a Mugen engine replaced between the two sessions.
- Second session
- Spins were there by: Olivier Panis, Damon Hill and Jan Magnussen.
- Diniz out due to technical problem.
- Weather during sessions: Sunny and warm.
The Times
- Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m 32.496s
- Frentzen (Williams) 1m 32.910s
- Alesi (Benetton) 1m 33.255s
- Villeneuve (Williams) 1m 33.371s
- R. Schumacher (Jordan) 1m 33.437s
- Irvine (Ferrari) 1m 34.157s
- Berger (Benetton) 1m 34.271s
- Coulthard (McLaren) 1m 34.432s
- Herbert (Sauber) 1m 34.593s
- Hakkinen (McLaren) 1m 34.742s
- Fisichella (Jordan) 1m 34.777s
- Panis (Prost) 1m 34.927s
- Hill (Arrows) 1m 35.073s
- Salo (Tyrrell) 1m 36.142s
- Larini (Sauber) 1m 36.223s
- Trulli (Minardi) 1m 36.392s
- Verstappen (Tyrrell) 1m 36.716s
- Magnussen (Stewart) 1m 37.023s
- Diniz (Arrows) 1m 38.092s20.
- Nakano (Prost) 1m 39.652s
- Barrichello (Stewart) 1m 40.002s
- Katayama (Minardi) 1m 40.947s
- Rosset (Lola) 1m 41.166s
- Sospiri (Lola) 1m 42.590s
- 107 % rule time: 1m 38.971s: 5 drivers outside qualification limit.
Quotes
- New team owner Alain Prost of the Prost team, formally the Ligier team, had a nerve wrecking day today with his drivers ending 11th, Olivier Panis, and 20th, Shinji Nakano: "It's tiring and I must say that I had unbelievable pressure when the cars went out of the garage and especially when they went out of the track too. I didn't realise how much tension there was when you are on the pit wall, but it was not very different to when I was driving and last
year when I was with McLaren. You are part of the team, whether you are the driver or in the garage, you are part of the family, so I feel the same with a bit more responsibility. But I would have loved to have a better day today for the team and the drivers."
Prost added: "I'm quite pleased to work with the drivers to help them with my experience, but I don't want to delegate too much yet because I have a lot to learn and I prefer to be in the middle of everything.'
- Michael Schumacher predicted that being the fastest man today doesn't mean he will win races: "We won't be able to win races in my view, not right from the beginning anyhow. We should be able to get on the podium in the first couple of races. I am sure that we will be competitive at certain times and I am hoping that we won't have lost too many points."
Schumacher added: "My aim is to be in a position to fight for the championship. I don't care how many victories I get as long as I am in a position to fight for it."
- Villeneuve commented: "I'm really looking forward to this race and to start at least one place better than last year. I know the basics now. Last year here, I had everything to discover."
- Damon Hill said the Yamaha engine needs a a lot of work and he added: "We have a lot of ground to make up and there is no good in treading water - so it is hard work for everyone at the team."
[ Previous | News Index |
Next ]